HOW TO… REPLACE YOUR RADIATOR
1 Turn off your central heating and isolate your radiator by turning off the valves at both ends. For a manual valve, turn clockwise until you can’t turn it anymore, or to zero on a thermostatic valve. For a lockshield valve, pull off the plastic shield and use a spanner to turn the shaft clockwise. 2 Place a washing-up bowl under the valves to capture any excess water that may drip out. Use an adjustable spanner to loosen one of the cap nuts that connects your radiator to the valve. You may need a second spanner to hold the valve body securely and cloths on hand to mop up if you have any larger spills.
3 Open the bleed valve at the top of the radiator, loosening the connecting cap nut, and drain the radiator. Once water stops dripping, disconnect the valve at the opposite end of the radiator. 4 Take the radiator off the brackets, tilting to drain any remaining water into a bowl. Squeeze a cloth into the outlets of the radiator to prevent leakage. If the current brackets don’t support the new radiator, then you’ll need to replace the brackets. Take care when drilling into the wall to see what’s behind where you intend to drill.
5 To install your new radiator, wrap the valve connectors in PTFE tape a few times before screwing them into your new radiator and hanging it on the wall. Turn the valves to allow water to flow into the radiator, and slightly open the bleed valve to allow the air to escape; close when water appears. Once happy there are no leaks, turn the central heating on.
WEATHER-PROOF THE DECKING
Scuffs and abrasions from furniture or foot traffic during summer parties can tarnish the beauty of your decking. Give it a thorough wash and seal treatment if wooden to return it to its former glory and keep an eye out for any loose nails or screws, which will need hammering or drilling back into the surface. Regularly sweep the deck to avoid debris or puddles building up, which will prevent mould and mildew forming.
7 SHOWER SWAP
If your shower experience is more of a drip than a drench, then update your showerhead with a kit you can fit yourself. Choose an option that meets your own home’s water pressure and space requirements in your bathroom. Turn the mains water off while replacing the shower, then turn on again to check the flow rate and test for
any leaks.
REARRANGE TO REFRESH
Sometimes all that’s needed is a layout change to make better use of your existing space. From dividing an open-plan room into designated zones, to moving your bed closer to the window to enjoy the sunrise, a reworked room can make a big difference. Debbie Leigh, Design Manager at ILIV, suggests, ‘Make a feature of an existing alcove with decorative shelving. You can inject your personality into the space by displaying your treasured trinkets or line them with books to create a dedicated reading nook.’
UPDATE A WALL WITH TRANSITIONAL SHELVING
Give a home office or kitchen alcove an industrial update with slotted shelving, which you can finish off with matt white shelving or scaffold boards for a more stripped-back finish. Brackets can be moved to your required height along these uprights, making them ideal for storing files or recipe books within arm’s reach of your office desk or kitchen counter.
10 FINE-TUNE YOUR LIGHTING
Cast a new glow onto your daily tasks by changing up your lighting. While you’ll need a trained electrician to install downlights or task lighting, there are options that won’t need their expertise. ‘Add floor and table lamps within the room to illuminate dark corners you can’t reach or to highlight a cosy corner or a beloved piece of art. Consider the temperature of your bulbs, too; in your living room, opt for a warm white to mimic candlelight,’ advises Lucy Henderson, Head of Design at My Bespoke Room.
11 ADD A PERSONALISED FEATURE WALL
Often the smallest room in the home, the bathroom is an ideal option to experiment with your design tastes. Adding a feature wall will bring instant wow factor to your daily rituals and you can take the personalisation one step further with a customised wall. ‘Many of our customers are choosing to create a truly bespoke design solution to ensure their home is as unique as possible. Capture your own personal style by matching an existing theme in your home, featuring your own artwork or even taking a favourite photo and making it a permanent feature of your home. You could even source an image from elsewhere too, though you’ll need to purchase the licence,’ says Steph Harris, Product Manager at Showerwall.
12 RE-THINK YOUR TILES
From a mosaic masterpiece above your sink to a rustic flagstone-effect in your porch, your choice of tile can make, or break, the feel of your room. Available in countless colour, shape and pattern options, tiles can be used to create a feature wall, statement floor section or a floor-to-ceiling transformation of your chosen space.
Tiles come in a wide range of materials, so consider where they’ll be used when choosing your design. For floors, choose porcelain, granite or slate as these are all hard-wearing and have a low water absorption rate. Ceramic tiles are much better suited to walls; though fragile, they’re lightweight, easy to cut to size and often come glazed for a gleaming, wipe-clean finish. Terracotta tiles work for both walls and floors, though their surface is very porous so make sure they’re treated if using in a room that’s likely to get wet often. Whether you’re after a minimalist matt bathroom floor or a light-reflecting kitchen splashback, with a little time, patience and grout in hand, you can tile your home to your heart’s content.